Shoe construction



Sept. 3, 1929. M F McNlFF 1,727,244

SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 31, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheetk 1 "BAV atrs Sept. 3, 1929.

M. F. MCNIFF SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. s1, '1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 3, 19.29. l

MICHAEL F. MCNIFF, CF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; OF SAID MICHAEL F., MCNIFF, DECEASED,

F-Flcc,

LOUISE A: MCNIFF ADMINISTRATRIX .ASSIGNOR T LOUISE A. MCNIFF.

SHOE CONSTRUCTION.

Applicationled December 81, 1927. Serial No. 244,008.

In shoes as heretofore constructed and particularly-low shoes or oxfords, the inside of the shoe at the-hall and heel of the shoe is flat and results in sore and flat feet, particularly at the. ball of the foot and there is no support for the arch since thel arch of the foot of ordinary persons rarely touch the arch .of the shoe, with resultant fallen arches, especially the anterior arch, and the inside at the heel is also flat and fails to conform with the heel of the foot of most persons. In addition, the counter or stiifener at the heel is so forme'das to not fit the heel of the foot at `the' back and sides and consequently the shoe bulges open and will readily shift or slip up and down causing abrasion of the heel with' much discomfort and also an unsightly appearancewhich it has long been desired to overcome in the art. Y

This invention relates to shoe construction and the object of the invention is to provide a shoe having particular novel inside sole formation and curvatures for use with both low and high shoes which will conform .to the bottoms of the feetof of particular races, but more particularly as determined by reason of extensive study and experiment as an expert in this art, to givev conformity and support to delicate portions 3o of the feet so as to insure maximum of comfort, exact fit, avoid deformities of the feet as well as' secure better wear and ease in walking or standing.

Morel particularly, the invention consists in providing the shoe with a small local slightly flattened portion preferably centrally and substantially of triangular shape at the ball portions slightly forward of the widest portion of the sole and forming with the remaining portion a convex portion increasing in upward toward the front or toe andsi'des of the sole,

a heel portion of marked concaveformation,

that is, deeper than ordinary est concavity at the center, a convex portion or protuberance forming a raised portion above the upper surface of the sole in rear of the metatarsal arch and extending slightly into the arch and widest portion of the sole but at a greater degree rearwardly to furwith'the greatnish support for the anterior arch of the foot ofthe wearer and an inner sole, preferably in the form of an auxiliary inner sole having a curvature to fit the arch and Support `the same withoutproviding separate arch supmany people especially l curvature and convexity or raising ports, shifting or gettin loose, and extending upwardly at the inside and outwardly in tap-ered formation 4to properly conform to and support the foot and prevent flat feet and -broken arches andato provide a counter or heel er arc being convex concave whereby a shoe made from the counter will be contracted and tightened immeeo'- stifener having a contour formed by two oppositely curved merging arcs, the lowand the upper'arc being diately above the bony part of the heel'and Itension exerted downwardly toward the arch. AOther and further objects of the invention and the particular formation of the shoe will be hereinafter more particularly described and the arrangements and combinations thereof appear as the description proceeds.

'In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shoe shown in the form of an oxford constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the inner soie shown in the form of an auxiliary inner so e. Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken on the section lines 3-3, 1-4, 5 5 and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the counter and Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the counter.

Referring to the drawings in detail, vthere is shown a shoe in the form of a low shoe or oxford 9, the upper of which may be of any desired construction except as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out and therefore, this time. The sole is designated at lO'and theheel at 11 while the inner sole is designatedat 12. There is also provided an inner sole 13 shown in the form of an auxiliary inner sole and sti'ifenermounted upon the innersole 12 and upon which at the heel portion is arranged a pad 14 of the usual'character. Within the heel is provided a counter or heel stiffener 15 shown in Figures .1, 7 and 8 of the drawing, this counter having the contour of the heel formed by two oppositely curved merging arcs, the lower arc' 16 being convex and the upper arc 17 being concave and the same tapering in thickness toward its opposite ends or-edges as indicated at 18 and '19, that is at the top and bottom as shown more specially in Figures 1 and 8. In other. words, this counter which is especially adapted for low shoes or oxfords or high shoes if desired, has its heel cut on a reverse curve with the lower portion convex or rounded and .est portion of the sole to the upper portion concave to the vtop and curving rearwardly at the top as indicated at 18 and also being of upwardly tapered cross section or restricted in transverse dimension or width at the top as clearly shown in Figure 7. The sides of course, curve downwardly toward the front as indicated at 20 and have inturned bottom portions 21 which it beneath the inner sole and are designed as means for securing the counter or stilfener in position. The rear edge 22 of vthis flange, that is the rear inturned portion as shown at 22 may be provided with kerfs as indicated in Figure 7 to obtain the desired curvature at this point, the portions resulting from the kerfs being cut away. This stiifener of course, lits within the outer layer of leather and the inner'layer of leather or canvas forming the shoe.

The heel portion which is produced by the auxiliary inner sole 13 or otherwise, has a marked degree of concave formation as indicated at 23, decreasing toward the sides but with the greatest concavity at the center and greater than the usual concavity. In this formation the sole 13 is thinner at the central portion as indicated at 24 and gradually increases in thickness toward the sides as in,-

dicated at 25 to produce side portions of considerable thickness which taper toward the front edge as indicated at 26 until the front edge Vportion is very thin, as indicated at 27. Across the central or arch portion, the sole is also extremely curved and concaved at the top as indicated at 28 in Fi ure 4 of the drawing, the inner side exten ing upward at a lesser inclination and slightly flattening toward the outer edge as indicated yat 29 andV which fits the arch being.

the inner portion extended upwardly as indicated at 30 and slightly outwardly at its upper edge while also tapering in thickness to a thin upper edge portion 31 and having a raised convex upper edge formation aspart-icularly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings. The front portion of the auxiliary inner sole 13 tapers in width toward the center and is provided Vwith a convex .protuberancey or raised portion above the upper surface thereof in rear of and extending sli htly into the wid-V irnish support for the anterior arch of 4thefoot of the wearer as Vindicated at 32. This portion is somewhat lenticular shaped or slightly reniform or kidney shaped and has a greater taper at the rear gradually approaching the normal surface of the sole, that is, the upper surface of ,theinner sole as indicated at 33 and is convex and sloping toward all 'sides while the forv ward portionis of greater convexity and less ture with the heel at the point or line 35 so as to ive extra support and rigidity at this point ut suliicient flexibility to prevent discomfort to the wearer owing to the resiliency and give of the leather and thereby obviate the necessity of employing metal arch supports. It is of course, to be understood that this inner sole is secured in position and obviates looseness and other objections common with arch supports. Where the convex protuberance or raised portion 32 is provided, the inner sole 13 tapers in thickness toward its opposite edges and in width toward the front edge as indicated at 27 and clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings so as to meet with the upper surface of the inner sole 12 at the ball portion or widest part of the foot.

i The ball portion of the tread of the shoe at the inner sole is provided with a small local slightly flattened portion 36, the /same being substantially triangular in shape in plan and located centrally of the ballportion of the tread o r sole and forming with the remaining portion a concavity with a bottom rising progressively toward the front or toe and sides as well as increasing in upward curvature and convexity there-at. as indicated at 37 and 38 so as to provide propel.` conformity with the sole or ball portion of the foot and insure extreme comfort. That is, the upward curvature increases around this triangular portion on the sides and front so as to give support to the body but without exertlng unnecessa or excessive pressure at the bones vat t is local triangular.

rangement as shall be" determined by the scope .of thefollowing) claims. Having thus .descri ed my invention I claim is 1. A shoe the ball portion of the tread of which is provided with a concavity with a bottom increasing in upward inclination towhat .ward the front and sides and a heel portion of extremely concaved formation with the deepest concavity at the center longitudinally and transversely, the said formation at the heel and arch being formed by an innery sole having a thin central portion increasing in thickness toward the sides and rear and a stiiened upwardly curved inner arch portion extending slightly outwardly and tapering towards its upper edge and the front portion thereof terminating in front of Athed anterior arch and tapering to a thin the maior portion of the width thereof with a bottom rising progressively toward the front and sides and a heel portion of extremely concaved formation with the deepest concavity at the center longitudinally and transversely, the said formation at the heel and arch-being formed by an inner sole having a thick central portion increasing in thickness toward the sides and rear and a stilened upwardly curved inner arch portion extending slightly outwardly and tapering towards its upper edge and the front portion thereof terminating in front of the anterior arch and taperingto a thin edge, the thickest portion of the upwardly curved inner arch portion being located in line with and at the juncture with the inner^edge of the heel to produce a relatively stiff portion to support the arch at this point.

3. A shoe having an auxiliary inner sole of marked concavity at the heel with the greatest concavity at the center taken transversely or longitudinally and incrfeasing in thickness toward the rear and sides, said inner sole having a raised upwardly and outwardly curved arch portion. of greatest thickness longitudinally where it curves u wardly from the base o f the sole and t e front portion having a convex raised portion above the upper surface thereof in rear of and extending slightly into the widest portion of the sole to furnish support fior the anterior arch of the foot of the wearer.

4. A shoe having an auxiliary inner-sole of greater than usual concavity at the heel with the greatest concavity at the center taken transversely or longitudinally and increasing in thickness toward the rear and sides, said inner sole ta erin in thickness toward the front and si es o the arch and having a raised upwardly and outwardly curved' arch portion of greatest thickness longitudinally where itl curves. upwardly from the base of the sole and the front portion having a convex protuberance above the upper surface thereof in rear of and extending slightly into the widest portion of the sole to furnishlsupport for the anterior arch of the foot of the wearer, said convex protuberancehaving greater taper at the rear than at the front and sloping toward-al1 sides, the bottom portion of said sole beneath the convexv protuberance conforming to the curvature of the remaining portion without projection below.-

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature MICHAEL F. MGNIFF. 

